Top 5 Historical Sites in Delhi
India’s capital is absolutely beautiful. Awash with colour, the city is so full of life it can be quite overwhelming but time spent in Delhi is an unforgettable experience. It is divided between Old Delhi’s rustic charm with its Mosques and Forts and New Delhi’s magnificent modern design. Spread between the two parts are some of the most spectacular attractions in the world. The only downside is that the famous Delhi-belly is hard to avoid so a stay at a Heathrow airport hotels might be a nice transition before heading home. There is so much to see in Delhi you’d be hard pushed to see it all so here is a selection of the best.
1. Bahai Temple – This wonderfully calm and tranquil house of meditation is cloaked in total silence throughout. The focus is on the individual making an inward journey of discovery, taking them closer to the Divine. The building itself is a stunning white marble structure with the nickname ‘The Lotus Temple’ on account of it being shaped like a lotus flower. It’s set amongst an oasis of lakes and lawns that give it the feeling of paradise. Not to be missed.
2. Red Fort – One of Old Delhi’s jewels the Red Fort is awe-inspiring. It stands as a lasting testament to India’s history and forms part of its distinct character. Inside, the dark and narrow corridors tend to be teeming with people that give the fort a feeling of life. The features of the fort have dimmed with time but the ramparts that rise out of the cacophony are still a fantastic spectacle.
3. Rashtrapati Bhawan – This is an impressive architectural marvel designed by Lutyens, which overlooks beautiful lawns and is just a short distance from India gate, close enough that they can count as one attraction in fact. India Gate is a memorial to the Indian soldiers that died in the Afghan war and Raipath (the gap between Rashtrpati Bhawana and India Gate) is where the Republic Day ceremonial parade is held.
4. Chandni Chowk – Created by Shahjahan, the man most famous for building the Taj Mahal, Chandni Chowk is a real treat. Its market is still the largest wholesale market in Asia and was planned to shine under the light of the moon. With the Red Fort at its centre and Delhi’s most famous mosque, the magnificent Jama Masjid as its prayer house, Chandni Chowk is a tourist’s dream.
5. Qutab Minar – Not strictly in Delhi but in a little village just to the south called Mehrauli the Qutab Minar is a red sandstone tower that reaches 72.5 metres into the Indian sky. Up close it is decorated with intricate carvings and selected verses from the holy Koran. The tower is the first monument of Muslim rule in India and doubles as both a sign of the victory of the Muslims in Delhi and as a minaret for the call to prayer.
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